Illumination control system



Feb. 18, 1941. R. B. HUNTER ILLUMINATION coN'rRoL SYSTEM Filed July 27, 1939 Patented Feb. 18, 1941 PATENT OFFICE 2,232,068 ILLUMINATION con'raor. srs'rm Richard B. Hunter; Bhorewood, Wia, aulgnor to Cutler-Hammer, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application July 2'1, 1939, Serial No. 286,848

11 Claims. (Cl. 175-312) This invention relates to improvements in illu- I mination control systems.

The invention relates more particularly to illumination control systems comprising a plurality of lamp circuits with provision for presetting a plurality of intensities of illumination of each circuit and effecting transition from one preset intensity to another at selective rates, the different lamp circuits being selectively grouped toous groups may difier from each other.

In a copending application, Serial No. 280,448, filed June 22, 1939, I have disclosed a system oi the aforementioned character in which each of a plurality of lamp circuit controllers are selectively grouped and the respective groups connected to common master controllers, one for each group and each scene to be preset, so as to provide for transition from one scene to another at different selected rates for each group. In accordance with the present invention each lamp circuit controller is also provided with a plurality of scene controllers, and may be connected to the latter selectively through one of a plurality of faders which provide for transition from one scene to another at a selected rate determined by the speed of operation of the respective fader, the faders of such circuits for which the same rate of transition is desired being operated in unison.

An object of the present invention is to provide a system of the aforementioned character which may employ any type of voltage regulator in the lamp circuit for the control of the illumination intensity of the latter.

Another object is to provide a system in which potentiometers are employed for the pilot or sender con-trol devices, which potentiometers may be of either the resistor or reactor type.

Another object is to provide a system including individual circuit and mastercontrols wherein transition of the intensity of illumination of an individual circuit from one preset value to another is effected individually by means of a cross fader which transfers the individual lamp 45- circuit from one preset control to another.

Another object is to provide a system of the aforementioned character wherein a plurality of individual fader controllers for the transfer of a circuit from one preset to another may be employed and in which the difierent individual cross faders may be operated at individual speeds.

Another object is to provide for the mechanical coupling of .corresponding cross faders of a plurality of groups so that they are operated simultaneously.

gether whereby the rates of transition of the vari- 7 Another object is to provide an illumination control of the aforementioned character wherein the transitionirom a given preset to another preset of the individual lamp circuit may be accomplished selectively either instantaneously or gradually through the use of a cross fader.

Another object is to provide a system in which any individual lamp circuit controller may selectively be controlled directly from its associated sender controller.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

An illumination control system embodying the invention usually comprises a number of individual lamp circuits, each controllable selectively by a plurality of presettable pilot control devices, which may be operated either directly to control the brilliancy of the respective lamp circuit or which may be grouped under the control 01' one or a plurality of presettable master control devices to provide for joint control of the respective groups at proportionally varying intensities. In the system embodying the present invention a plurality of fader" controllers are selectively interposed between the individual pilot control devices and the voltage responsive element of the lamp circuit controller to provide for transfer of the individual lamp circuit control from one preset intensity to another at selective rates.

The accompanying drawing is a diagram of a system incorporating the present invention. The

system comprises two lamp circuits I and 2, re-

spectively. Energy for the lamps and for the control circuits is supplied from the alternating current bus 'bars L and L. The current for the lamp circuit l is supplied through an autotransformer dimmer 3 which has its winding connected across the lines U, L and which is provided with a sliding contact 4 by means of which a variable secondary voltage of the transformer may be impressed upon the lamp circuit. The brush 4 connects the various taps of the transformer winding to a contact bar 5 to which one terminal of the lamp circuit is connected, while the other terminal of the lamp circuit is connected to the line L. The brush 4 may be moved along the transformer taps and bar 5 by a screw 6 which is driven by a motor I provided with reverslng windings, the latter being controlled by a relay 8. e

The relay 8 comprises a lever i3 pivoted at its center and provided at each end with a magnet surrounded by polarizing coils 8 which are connected across the lines L L in such a manner that the polarity 01' both cores is in the same direction. A second set of coils 8 is arranged on the cores 8 but these are wound in opposite directions relative to each other so that a current flowing therein unbalances the pull on the two cores to cause rotation of the armature in one or the other direction, depending upon the direction-oi the current in the coils 8 relative to that in the coils 8. The lever 8* is provided with a contact arm 8 which when the lever is rotated makes contact with stationary contacts 8 and 8', respectively, to thereby energize one or the other of the reversing windings of the motor I and cause the latter to rotate in a corresponding direction to thereby move the brush 4 and increase or decrease the lamp circuit voltage.

The circuit arrangement thus far described is duplicated for the lamp circuit 2 and any additional lamp circuits oi. the system.

The system further includes two scene master potentiometers 8 and I8, respectively, both being connected across the lines L L and being provided with sliding contacts 9* and I0, respectively. Lamp circuit I is provided with two lamp group potentiometers II and I 2, respectively, one for each scene, the potentiometers being connected between the line L and the brushes 8' and I8, respectively. Similar lamp group potentiometers l3 and I4, respectively, are provided for lamp circuit 2. Lamp circuit I is further provided with a double pole three position switch I5, having contact levers l5- and I5", respectively, which are mechanically connected to move in unison and to make contact selectively with stationary contacts I5 and I5 I5 and l5 and I5 respectively. The contact lever I5 is connected to the movable contact II of potentiometer II, while contact lever Iii is similarly connected to movable contact l2.

A potentiometer or fader I6 is connected between the contacts I 5 and I 5 and a similar potentiometer or fader I-l between the contacts I5 and I5. Faders l6 and II are provided with movable brushes I6 and I'l respectively, forming a bridging contact between contact bars l6 and Il respectively, and the potentiometer impedances l6 and II, respectively. The contact bars 18 and I! are connected together and to the contact I5 A potentiometer rheostat I8 is connected between the lines L and L and is provided with a sliding contact I 8, which bridges a circuit between a variable point of the rheostat I8 and a bar I8. The contact I8 is driven synchronously with the contact 4. The coils 8 are connected between the contact I5 and the bar I8, so that a variable voltage impressed by the potentiometer I8 upon the coils 8 is a measure of the lamp circuit voltage and brilliancy.

The system operates as follows: let it be assumed that the switch I5 of lamp group I is positioned to energize fader I 6 of that group and brushes I 6 and I'I of all the faders of all the lamp groups are in their extreme left position. Also the switch I5 of lamp group 2 is closed to energize the corresponding fader I'I. It is obvious therefore that the potentiometer I8 oi. group I must occupy a position to produce 8. voltage which is equal to the line voltage multiplied by the ratio of input to output voltage of master potentiometer 9 and further multiplied by the ratio of output to input voltage of lamp group potentiometer I I. Similarly the output voltag the receiver potentiometer I8 of lamp group 2 is or will become equal to the line voltage as modifled by the potentiometers 8 and I8. If it is now desired to change from scene i to scene 2 setup it is only necessary to adjust the potentiometers I8, I2 and II and thereafter move the respective fader brushes I B and II from their extreme left to their extreme right position. This subjects the receiver potentiometers I8 to the control of scene master potentiometer l0 and lamp group potentiometers l2 and I4, respectively. As a result the relays 8 are energized until the brilliancy of the lamps and the position 01' the receiver potentiometers again corresponds to the desired value as determined by the adjustment.

All of the brushes l6 and I1, respectively, are coupled together mechanically, so that they may be moved simultaneously when changing from one scene to another. Furthermore by moving the brushes I 5' at a rate which difiers from that of the brushes ll", two difierent rates 01' fading from one scene to another may be provided for the difierent lamp groups. It is further possible to change the control oi any lamp group instantly from control by group potentiometer I! to control by group potentiometer II by moving the respective switch l5 into engagement with the contact l5.

It will be observed that any type of preset master scene regulator may be employed which is capable oi supplying a plurality of preset voltages to the individual group potentiometers.

It will further be observed that the individual group masters may also be of either the resistor or the autotransiormer type.

By moving the brushes lli and I1, respectively, of the various lamp group controllers to an intermediate position it is further possible to subject the relays 8 and therefore the various lamp groups to a combined influence of the controllers for scene I and scene 2. These two impress upon the regulator a voltage which is the resultant of the voltages obtaining on the lamp scene regulators II and I2, respectively.

The respective i'ader brushes [6 and I1 are provided with suitable means whereby they are coupled to a joint operating handle I 9 or the like for simultaneou operation of the iaders so coupled at a given rate. Obviously all the faders .of the system may be arranged in several groups for operation at difierent rates for the several groups.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A control system comprising a circuit to be controlled, voltage responsive means for controlling said circuit, and means for presetting a plurality of operating values for an electrical condition of said circuit comprising a voltage regulator for each of said values and a plurality of selectively connectable faders for each pair of said voltage regulators and adapted to increase the effect 01. one of said regulators and simultaneously decrease the eflect of the other of said regulators upon said voltage responsive means.

2. A control system comprising a circuit to be controlled, an electromagnetic relay for controlling said circuit, a plurality of voltage regulators each adapted to supply a variable voltage to said relay to operate same and a plurality of selectively connectable faders for each pair of said voltage regulators and adapted to increase the efiect of one of said regulators and simultaneously decrease the eifect of the other of said regulators upon said relay.

3. A control system comprising a circuit to be controlled, an electromagnetic relay for controlling said circuit and having an energizing winding, a plurality of potentiometers each adapted to supply a variable output voltage, and a plurality of iaders for said plurality of potentiometers each connectable selectively between the output terminals of a pair of said potentiometers and adapted to increase the effect of the output voltage of one and to simultaneously decrease the effect of the output voltage of the other of said pair of potentiometers upon said winding.

4. A control system comprising a circuit to be controlled, an electromagnetic relay for controlling said circuit, said relay having two energizing windings, a voltage regulator adapted to impress a voltage on one of said windings which varies with an operating value of said circuit, a plurality of potentiometers each adapted to supply a variable output voltage corresponding to a selected operating value of said circuit, and a plurality of faders each connectable selectively between the output terminals of a pair of said potentiometers and adapted to increase the effect of the output voltage of one and to simultaneously decrease the efiect of the output voltage of the other of said pair of potentiometers upon said other of said windings.

5. A control system comprising a circuit to be controlled, an electromagnetic relay for controlling said circuit, said relay having two energizing windings, a voltage regulator adapted to impress a voltage on one of said windings which varies with an operating value 01' said circuit, a plurality of potentiometers each adapted to supply a variable output voltage corresponding to a selected operating value of said circuit, and a plurality of faders each connectable selectively between the output terminals of a pair of said potentiometers and adapted to increase the effect of the output voltage of one and to simultaneously decrease the eflect of the output voltage of the other of said pair of potentiometers upon said other of said windings, and means to impress the output voltage of a given one of said potentiometers upon said second winding independent of the operation of said faders.

6. In an illumination control system affording individual and joint control oi the intensity of a plurality of groups of lamps for the enactment of a plurality of scenes of illumination, comprising for each group of lamps, voltage responsive means for controlling said intensity, a plurality of selectively operable voltage regulators one for each of said scenes and aflording a variable ratio between their respective input and output voltages, and a plurality of faders each selectively connectable to a pair of said voltage regulators and adapted to increase the eflect of the output voltage of one and to simultaneously decrease the effect of the output voltage of another of said voltage regulators upon said voltage responsive means, and common means to vary simultaneously the input voltages of the respective scene regulators.

'7. In an illumination control system afiording individual and joint control of the intensity of a plurality of groups of lamps for the enactment of a plurality of scenes of illumination, comprising for each group of lamps, voltage responsive means for controlling said intensity, a plurality of selectively operable voltage regulators one for each of said scenes and affording a variable ratio between their respective input and output voltages, -a plurality of faders each selectively connectable to a pair of said voltage regulators and adapted to increase the eirect of the output voltage of one and to simultaneously decrease-the effect of the output voltage of another 01' said voltage regulators upon said voltage responsive 5 means, and means to impress the output voltage of a given one oi! said voltage regulators upon said voltage responsive means independent of the operation of said faders, and common means to vary simultaneously the input voltages of the respective scene regulators.

8. In an illumination control system aflording individual and joint control of the intensity 01' a plurality of groups of lamps for the enactment of a plurality of scenes of illumination, comprising for each group of lamps, voltage responsive means for controlling said intensity, a plurality of presettable voltage regulators, one for each of said scenes and affording a variable ratio between their respective input and output voltages, a plurality of iaders for said plurality of potentiometers each selectively connectable to a pair of said voltage regulators and adapted to increase the effect of the output voltage of one and to simultaneously decrease the effect of the output voltage of another of said voltage regulators upon said voltage responsive means, and means for grouping said faders and operating the i'aders of the respective group jointly.

9. In an illumination control system affording 80 individual and joint control of the intensity of a plurality of groups of lamps for the enactment 01 a plurality of scenes of illumination, comprising for each group of lamps, voltage responsive means for controlling said intensity, a plurality 85 of presettable voltage regulators, one for each of said scenes and affording a variable ratio between their respective input and output voltages, a plurality of raders each selectively connectable to a pair of said voltage regulators and adapted 40 to increase the eilect or the output voltage 01' one and to simultaneously decrease the efl'ect of the output voltage of another of said voltage regulators upon said voltage responsive means, and means to impress the output voltage of a given one 01' said voltage regulators upon said voltage responsive means independent of the operation of said faders, and means for grouping said fad- 1 ers and operating the faders of the respective group Jointly.

10. In an illumination control system afiording individual and joint control 01' the intensity 01' a plurality of groups of lamps for the enactment of a plurality of scenes of illumination, comprising for each group of lamps, voltage responsive means for controlling said intensity, a plurality o1 presettable voltage regulators, one for each of said scenes and affording a variable ratio between their respective input and output voltages, a plurality of faders each selectively connectable to a pair of said voltage regulators and adapted to increase the effect of the output voltage of one and to simultaneously decrease the effect of the output voltage of another of said voltage regulators upon said voltage responsive means, and means for grouping said faders and operating the faders of the respective group jointly, and common means to vary simultaneously the output voltages of the respective scene regulators.

11. In an illumination control system aflording individual and joint control of the intensity of a plurality of groups of lamps for the enactment of a plurality of scenes of illumination, comprising for each group of lamps, voltage responsive means for controlling said intensity, means for 7 age responsive means, means for grouping said iaders and operating the Iaders oi the respective group Jointly, and means to impress the output voltage of a given one of said voltage regulators upon said voltage responsive means independent of the operation of said faders, and common means to vary simultaneously the output voltages of the respective scene regulators.

RICHARD B. HUNTER. 

